Device for distributing materials into branch conduits



June 13, 1933. H. J. KERR 1,913,676

DEVICE FOR DISTRIBUTING MATERIALS INTO BRANCH CONDUITS Filed April 28,1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig].- 1

mlllhn ATTORNEYS H. J. KERR 1,913,676

DEVICE FOR DISTRIBUTING MATERIALS INTO BRANCH CONDUITS June 13, 1933,

Filed April 28, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig4 In "m 3/ INVENTOR I FMATTORNEYS Patented a... is, 1933 U STArss PATENT OFFECE HOWARD J." KERR,or wnsrrmnn, new JERSEY, nssreivon 'ro FULL R Ln rien: 1- COMPANY, orFULLERTON, PENNSYLVANIA, A con-roRAT-Ionor DELAWARE DEVICE FOR.msnarrru'rrive MitrmarALs Intro BRANCH connur'rs Applicatiiin filed11111 1128,

This invention relates to a device by which fine particlesof material orpowder, that are conduit may be divided in such a mannerthat equalproportions of air and solid materlal are passed into the respectivebranches. It is well known that when powdered coal, for

example, is carried by air through a conduit the coal sometimes becomesconcentrated along one side of the conduit so that if a branch istappedoff from that side the proportionof coal to theair-is greater than inthe main conduit making that in the branch too rich in coal, While abranch tapped oft fromanother portion wouldjbe too lean in coal. Bythepresent invention this obj ection can be avoided and the properdistribution of coal inthe air in the difl'erent branches is obtained.The invention will be understood from the description in connectionwiththe accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a section of anillustrative embodiment of the invention taken along the line 11 of Fig.2;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device; Fig. 3 is an end view of thesame; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of some of the parts on a smallscale; Fig. 4 is a section similar to Fig. 1 taken along the line 4-4 ofFig. 5 showing a modification; Fig. 5 is a side view of themodification; and Fig. 6 is an end viewof the same.

In the drawings reference character I indicates a casing that isprovided with an inlet 2 on the side which leads from a conduit fromwhich branches are provided. The casing 1 contains a cylindically shapedpropeller compartment 3 in which a propeller is mounted comprising thepropeller shaft 4 that is journaled in the bearing 4 on the easing, andaxially disposed blades 5 that are preferably slightly curved extendingfrom the shaft 4 in radial directions. The blades comprise two groups 5and 5, the group 5 being substantially as wide as the axial dimension ofthe compartment 8 and the group 5 being approximately half that width.The blades 5 and 5 alternate with each other around the propeller wheel.The shaft 4 may be driven from any convenient source of power (notshown) so that the pro- 1928. Serial mi. 273,541;

be driven atany desired speed. 1 carried by a stream of air or gasthrough a A division plate 6 is located about half way between the endsof the cylindrical compartment 3 and is provided with ring shaped angles17 that are attached to the plate 6, the

inner flanges terminating near the outer periphery of the blades 5 and5'. Somewhat trial igularly shaped baffles8 are installed at the inneredges of theblad-es 5 these baffles fciosing the alternate spacesbetween the blades 5and 5 and being perpendicular to these blades. Thebaflles 8 have flanges 9 parallel to the blades 5 extending toward theinlet 2 andclamping screws 10 are provided on the blades 5 and 5 passingthrough slots in the flanges 9 so that the baffles 8 canbe adpistedaxially on the blades 5 and 5. The combined width of the inner flangesof the angles 7 is sufficient to suit the different posi- 9 tlons of thebattles 8 and to cover the range of adjustment of these bafiies. A pairof outlets 11 and 11 extend from the lower side of the casing 1,=beingdisposed on the opposite sides of the division plate 6. By making thebattles 8 adjustable, means are provided for diverting difierent amountsof material into the different outlets 11, 11.

The operation is as follows: The gas or air carrying'jthe particles ofsolid material in suspension enters through the inlet 2 while the shaft4 and blades 5 and 5 are being driven. A portion of the air andsolidparticles enters the spaces between the blades 5 and 5 that are closedby the batfles 8 and sizes, substantially equal amounts of the materialwill be carried into the respective branches 11 and 11. IIowever, bymaking the sets of entrances of different sizes, different amounts ofmaterial can be diverted into the respective branches. In view of theface that each opening between the blade 5 and blade 5 sweeps over theentire area of the inlet 2, the average concentration of solid Imaterial in the air will be the same for each blades carried by saidwheel,

opening, and therefore the proper proportion of air to solid materialwill be carried off by the branches 11 and 11.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the blades 5 and baffles8 are dis pensed with and the blades 12 that alternate with the blades 5are bent near themiddle and the bent ends 13 are turned and shaped so asto come into contact. with the blades 5 at right angles thereto, thusclosing the alternate ends of the spaces between the blades 5 and 12.The operation is similar to that above described in connection with theother modification.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a casing, a wheel havingradial blades thereon revoluble in said casing, baffles on said wheelextending between alternate pairs of blades, and a division plateattached to the inside of said casing substantially in alignment withsaid baflles.

2. In a device of the character described, a casing, a revoluble wheelhaving blades located in said casing, and baflies between alternatepairs of blades, said baffles being attached to said blades andadjustable axially of said wheel on thesarne.

3. In a device of the character described, a casing, a revoluble wheelhaving blades located in said casing, battles between alternate pairs ofblades attached to both blades, and outlets from said casing on oppositesides of said baflies.

4. In a device of the character described, a cylindrical casing, aninlet in one end of said casing, outlets at the circumference of saidcasing, revoluble blades in said casing, and bafiles between some ofsaid blades intermediate said outlets, said baflles being carried bysaid blades.

5. In a device of the character described, a casing, a revoluble shaftin said casing, radially extending blades connected to said shaft, andadjustable bafiles disposed at an angle to said blades and revolubletherewith.

6. In a device of the character described, a casing, a revoluble wheelin said casing, blades carried by said wheel, and adjustablebafllesebetween alternate pairs of blades extending in a planesubstantially at right angles to the axis of said wheel.

7. In a device of the character described, a casing, a revoluble wheelin said casing,

and bafiies adjustable axiallyof said wheel between alternate pairs ofblades extending in a plane substantially at right angles to the axis ofsaid wheel.

8. In a distributor, a casing, two outlets from said casing, a revolublewheel in said casing, blades on said wheel, and baffles betweenalternate pairs of blades extending substantially in a plane of motionof a point on one of said blades for controlling distribudrical casing,a wheel in said casing, an inlet to said casing, and a plurality ofparallel outlets to said casing, said outlets being tangential to saidcasing and to said wheel, in combination with bafiie means on said wheelfor diverting different amounts of material into the different outlets.

11. Apparatus for distributing pulverized material transported insuspension in a gas stream comprising a casing having a material inletarranged in one side thereof and a plurality of material outletsarranged in the periphery thereof and opening to said casing atdifferent axial distances from said inlet, a rotary distributor wheel insaid casing in axial alignment with said inlet, said wheel havingangula-rly spaced axially extending blades mounted thereon and dividingthe interior of said easing into a series of segmental chambers, bafileplates on said wheel extending between spaced pairs of adjacent bladesand arranged to divide said series into a plurality of groups ofchambers of different axial depths, and each of said groups of chambersbeing arranged to discharge into but one of said peripheral outlets.

HOWARD J. KERR.

